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Lowering guide with pics!

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38K views 54 replies 27 participants last post by  BlackMagic84  
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#1 · (Edited)
Lowering guide with pics! UPDATE, PICS BACK!!!!

How to put lowering springs on a Bubble/25/ZR

If you wish to follow my guide I will not be held responsible if anything was to happen.....and please ensure you have the right tools and are confident in doing this work, the most dangerous part is the spring itself, when compressed it has serious force and can injure if it comes free when released.

Tools needed

Jack
Axle Stands
Ratchet/Spanner (12mm, 15mm)
Allen Keys
Spring Compressors
WD40 and a Breaker Bar can be useful

Starting with the rear

Jack the car up support on AXLE STANDS and remove the wheels

Open the boot and remove the carpet

You should see this,

Image

Image


Remove the rubber grommet to reveal the top of the strut hub

Loosen the Nylon Nut using an Allen Key and Spanner (two or three rotations)

Image

Image


Loosen the top nuts using a ratchet


Loosen the bottom pinch bolt but leave it in for now (breaker bar may be needed and plenty of WD40 few hours before doing the job)


Image
Image


Support the drum with a jack (if you have rear disks place it directly under the strut)

Image


Image

Jack it so that the spring isn’t compressed but you can still gain access to the nylon nut.

Now to save putting spring clams, as this takes longer, remove the two securing screws and the nylon nut .

Gently lower the jack and the top cup should pop of (make sure to collect all the bits and remember the order in which they are positioned)

Remove the bottom pinch bolt and take the strut out.

Image

Image


Now take the old spring off and place the new springs on.

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Get a good grip with the spring clamps and tighten them until the top bolt can be accessed.

Image

Image


Put the top rubber plug and cup back on as well as the metal washer and nylon nut (you should ideally get new nylon nuts, and make sure the springs are fited correctly, they have a certain position within the strut)

The clamps can come of if they get in they way, but id recommend leaving them in, if not like I said make sure the nylon nut has enough thread to be secure

Now you need to reposition the strut back in
Image


and put the pinch bolt in raise the hub and get the two top securing screws in and tighten the nylon nut.

Remove clamps if you haven’t done so , tighten pinch bolt and make sure the other bolts are tight.

Put your wheels on and TIGHTEN them

Lower the car, put the rubber grommet back in place over the securing screws in the boot, and carpet back in.
　



Fronts

Again loosen wheel nuts, jack car up and support on AXLE STANDS

Remove wheels

Remove the brake line securing bolt using a spanner (this is so that you can remove the strut)

Image

Image


Open the bonnet and again loosen the nylon nut (one or two rotations)

Image

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Loosen the three securing nuts at the top of the hub, but leave them in (makes it easier to remove the bottom pinch bolt)

Remove the bottom pinch bolt, again breaker bar and WD40

Image
Image


Remove the top securing nuts

Take the strut out and get spring clamps on the spring, try and get a good grip with them so you can take as much pressure of the spring as possible.

Image

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Remove nylon nut

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Evenly undo the spring clamps until they come of the spring.

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Old springs off, new ones on and tighten them with clamps until you can get the top cups etc. and nylon nut on (Clamps again preferably stay on)

Position strut back in and get the pinch bolt and top securing struts on.

Tighten the nylon nut

Image

Tighten the top nuts and pinch bolt

Put your brake line screw back on.

Remove clamps if you haven’t already done so

Get you wheels on, jack car, remove axle stands and lower car

It’s a good idea to do one side at a time and remember when reassembling the strut you can look at the other side and MAKE SURE it’s the same
Go for a drive and take it easy, listen for any clunking.

Enjoy much better looks and handling and a well deserved break. I would give 4hours for this job if you haven’t attempted it before
　
If I missed something, someone point it out and Ill correct it. Apologies if so, but wrote this guide the other day and then computer crashed when uploading it Arghh!!!!:cus:

UPDATE, HOPE THE PICS CORRESPOND!!!!!
　
　
　
　
　
　
 
P
#18 ·
ermmmmm.... embarassed to say this charlie, but have no idea what you mean.

If im right in what i think you mean, then when you take the strut out it comes away from from the rest of the car without disturbing anythin else. Its hard to explain but everything stays in place as long as your careful and dont pull anything to hard.

The bottom pinch bolt holds it in place to the car, nothing else needs removing, the only thing is if you pull on it too hard it can disturb the drive shaft link, but this can be poped back in
 
S
#19 ·
yeah when i did it all i did was undo the bolt securing the strut, the brake hose off, and swung on the disc and worked it off, never even took the rear wheels off to do the back struts, not a very difficult job at all in reflection!! would never recommend a garage for this job, unless you dont have a torque wrench as thats very important, overtightening or undertightening can be disasterous..............
 
P
#24 ·
The car was suppose to be lowered 30mm, but Gmax are known for not going that low on ZR struts (which I had fitted to mine), id say its a 20m-25mm drop, but if you have 25 struts and you get 40mm lowering springs for a 200/25 it should achieve a similar final drop to what I got.

Image




Image


not very good pics but dont have any others

sorry only onles i have
 
J
#27 ·
Great helpful guide, thanks!

It will be very useful for me, as I'm changing my SEi's springs next week. Although the rear suspension is considerably different and more complex to dismantle, it just worked for me to get some clues. :)

PS: I'm using -40mm Ventura springs.
 
S
#29 ·
i was looking for a similar drop, i would like to know or hear from anyone whos lowered on 15"cos everyone seens to be on larger!

low is good! if i was just to get -40mm springs for my 25 on standards shocks would it look similar to yours PrimeTime?

Thanks

SJ
 
M
#33 ·
Please help me !!

PLEASE HELP ME! how do i go abt lowering my r 25?its 1.4 2001 , fully stock . i am totally new to this as u may be able to tel and i want to lower it 40mm atleast , but ive seen sum lowering springs on ebay that lwoer the frotn 70mm and rear 60mm wil i need anything else ?ie coilovers etc??? do i need anything else 4 lowerin 40mm ?am on tight budget plz email me mj.gittings@hotmail.com or send me private mesage on here thanks
 
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